"All set, Ladies?" Tovah asked cheerfully. "And, I must say, you both look absolutely gorgeous. I love your dresses!"
"Aunt Penelope made them for us," Jade told her.
"She said she sprinkled them with fairy dust for good luck," Paige added.
"Sounds like a winner to me," Tovah smiled. "After you are done skating, I need to meet this Aunt Penelope of yours."
"I promise you, it will be quite an experience," Laurel smiled. "Penelope is a force to be reckoned with." She turned to smile at Joan who was standing next to her.
"Thank you for working with Jade," Joan told the coach. "I think you really made a difference."
"Sometimes having things explained to you in a different way makes a difference," Tovah replied. "And, I must admit I have been very impressed with the way these two push each other. Their practice session yesterday was wonderful."
"Now," Laurel leaned down to kiss Paige. "We are going to go join Aaron and the rest of the team in the bleachers. Have a good skate and we'll see you afterwards. Okay?"
"Okay," Paige smiled confidently at her.
"The same goes for me," Joan gave Jade a quick hug and kiss. "Your father and I will be in the bleachers watching you."
"Let's go," Tovah put one hand on Paige's shoulder and the other on Jade's. "I see your warm-up group right over there. You two can do some stretches while you wait for it to be called."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~,~
"Go Paige!" Hotch called out loudly as she moved onto the ice to take her opening pose.
"Hotch?" JJ looked at him in amazement.
"You'd better get used to it," Laurel told her with a smile. "It has become a tradition with him. He's under the impression it helps her skate better."
"You would be surprised at what helps you perform better," Morgan observed. "I know when I was playing ball I always seemed to play better if I talked to my mom before the game."
"Sometimes it helps when routines become ingrained," Reid began. "And, it is an accepted fact that familiarity helps one to remain calm and to focus on the task at hand. Now, with sports, the issue of muscle memory - "
"Reid – Paige is starting her program!" Garcia hissed at him as the music began.